Vital Villa Interviews 2012: whiskeyw

1969! At the tender age of 10 I took my first steps into Villa Park. Oddly I became a baggies fan briefly in 1968 as Jeff Astle had just won them the FA cup. Then my old man refused to talk to me for a year until I swapped allegiance to the claret and blue. Having since looked up my dad`s family history, I now find that four generations on his side are buried in St Peters & St Pauls church at the Holte End, so I now nod as I walk past and accept how wrong I was as a child…

2) Paul Lambert? Your opinion please?

I think he will be a revelation! But then I said that about MoN. The difference (I hope) is that Paul puts variation in to the game and uses more than 12 players in a season as opposed to MoN`s "soak it up and hit 'em on the break" style! But as long as its not dire to watch then I am okay with it.

3) Best and worst moments of last season?

Two best moments, the 19th minute home to Chelsea was very moving. The other was hearing the Villa fans at Liverpool. I was in the neutral end with a scouser and when the Villa fans starting singing "what a waste of money" re Downing, all the scousers asked which player we were referring to - as they were all crap! Worst - well the whole of last season really!! First time ever that I have left a game with 15 minutes remaining on the clock - and I did this at four home games it was so depressing!

4) Your opinion of Randy Lerner and the board, can a decent season next season make up for last season?

I am a Lerner fan. At the end of the day, it`s a business that he is running, but he is a fan too! His thinking with Acorns, the Holte Pub and even the free coaches to away matches are nice touches. However what his thinking was behind employing Big Eck was shocking but also a steep learning curve to him and the board. Don`t listen to the fans, play dire football and lose your business! Fortunately, he played the game right in the end and did not do a Wolves (sacking to early to turn things around without a plan B), and instructed McLeish to sit it out (literally for the last four games!) park the bus, and get a point per game. So, providing PL is given the time, resources and assistance to point us in the right direction, and we see progress into the top half and a nice cup run for next season then yes, I think in the main Villa fans will be made up.

5) Which player/s should Villa sign this summer?

Apart from keeping King Carlos as a CB, an attacking central midfielder who can feed Benty and get me off my seat!!

6) Which player/s should Villa get rid of this summer?

Fonz (loan to improve or out!), Dunne, Collins (not what they were), Warnock and Gabby mid-season if he doesn`t start finding the net!

7) Favourite current player?

Stan P is the man! Always 110 per cent commitment after an awful first year! Watching him find the net in the early part of this season with some stunners was fantastic. Get well soon Stan!

8) Favourite all time player/s?

Bruce Rioch (what a left foot!), Chico Hamilton (blonde wonder), Andy Lockhead (he would show Carroll how to head a ball) and of course Sir Paul of McGrath! Then there were Mark Walters (trickster) Keith Leonard (another tragic ending),- I could go on!

9) What do you expect us to do/finish this season assuming a decent transfer window with £25m or so spent?

Premier Top half probably 8th/9th FA Cup: 4th Round (and then kiss goodbye again to Man U as per usual)Carling: Final - and win it this time against a Cardiff or Sheffield as opposed to Man U

10) You can ask yourself any question you want to about Villa and what is your answer?

Why won`t they open the doors in the lower Holte to the Suite at half time having proved it works in the past and eases the crowds in the bar area! Answer: Apparently Health and Safety reasons. Its okay to squeeze everyone in a confined space but not open 3 sets of double doors to ease the pressure!

11) Just to change the theme slightly, a snap shot of you outside of football, answer or ignore at your leisure: (based on our WHO ARE YOU thread!!!)

a) Which celebrity/s would you most like to meet and why? Not so much a celebrity but a royal - Lord Mountbatten of Burma to hear of his epic and brave times in the North Sea during the war …

b) Age 53

c) Location: Small village on the outskirts of Cheltenham, but family still live in the Kings Heath area

Your Comments (oldest first)

Those three lost days.... the mind boggles!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And well done to your dad, tough love but the only way to get you on the righteous path it seems!? LOL Great interview, sorry for delay putting it up.

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